Somewhere in that sweet spot between sleep and coming to, I had let my guard down. Allowed her to get too close just for a second. My hand had curved around her waist because her body felt right tucked up flush, soft and warm, against mine. When she moved her hand slightly lower, to put space between us, the pit of my stomach tightened under her touch.
The sound of car doors closing pulled me from my thoughts of the weekend as I breathed out more smoke. Further down the street, several cop cars had pulled up — no lights or sirens.
As they climbed out in uniform and started straight for the club, I stepped away from the Mercedes, swaying on my feet as I retrieved the car keys from my back pocket. I dropped them on the sidewalk and put on a display of fumbling to pick them up again. No more than another drunk.
The cops marched by without a second glance, heading straight for the two bouncers at the doors before flashing their badges and a piece of paper.
I kept an eye on them as I moved around the car and slipped into the driver’s seat. I sent Vince a text with a heads-up and within two minutes, Antonio was escorted through the back door of the nightclub, surrounded by his bodyguards and associates. The latter quickly dispersed to separate cars.
Antonio climbed into the back seat, flanked by two bodyguards, while the third, Vince, got into the front seat beside me.
“Drive, Dean,” Antonio ordered calmly. Barely a hint of concern in his voice as he watched me through the rearview mirror.
I put the car in drive and slowly pulled out onto the street. As we passed the front doors of the club, the police stormed inside.
Chapter 36
Lily
“Okay. Deep breath,” I said.
The man on the couch across from me, a Russian fighter nicknamed The Viper because of the tattoo on the side of his scalp, very subtly braced himself as I gently held his fingers. His knuckles were bloodied, and his hands riddled with scars, but it was his pinkie finger that was the main focus. Jutting out at an odd angle after a punch landed wrong.
Checking that I had everything lined up to fix it, I gently and slowly moved the finger back into place. Relying on Google as a guide, of all things. The Viper didn’t seem to mind. Actually, it was hard to gauge anything he minded. His face was set in a permanent scowl, and he barely flinched when his finger was straightened and strapped to a popsicle stick.
The crowds in the basement slowly thinned out by 2 AM, and only a handful of fighters lingered by their lockers. Gathering their belongings before bidding gruff goodbyes to each other.
I was tidying up my cabinet in the corner, straightening out the containers and making sure nothing was missing, when I dared a look over my shoulder to where the lockers were. Dean was stuffing his belongings into his backpack with a subtle frown on his face. Seb had already left for dinner with his family, so he was alone.
A week had passed since that Monday at the garage, and we hadn’t spoken or seen each other since. I wanted to say it was because Antonio probably kept him busy with other work, but then he would’ve spoken to me tonight if that were the case. And he hadn’t. Instead, it felt like he was avoiding me.
After that drive to my apartment, when he slipped into a dark silence (after I metaphorically put my foot in...something), we were strangers again. I hated that whatever I said, or brought up, caused that. Not knowing how to fix it, whatever it was, had gnawed away at my conscience all week.
Dean closed his locker door and slung the strap of his bag over one shoulder. He kept his head down as he made his way to the stairs — towards me, but he didn't look in my direction as he rounded the bottom of the staircase.
He hesitated several steps up but a different voice brought my attention elsewhere.
“Lily," Antonio said as he approached. A grin on his face as he held out his arms wide, motioning to the room.
I smiled nervously, uncertain of what he wanted. "Yes?"
The back door closed at the top of the stairs.
Dean had left.
Antonio chuckled as he squeezed my shoulder. “Don’t look so nervous, sweetheart. I just wanted to check in.”
“Oh...”
“So?”
I stammered. “I love the cabinet.”
What else was I supposed to say?
“None of the boys have given you a hard time?”
“No. They’ve all been...perfect patients.” The little laugh I let out was strained.
